Temazcal Tequila Cantina joins Rte. 9 restaurants in Framingham

Sunday

Sep 9, 2018 at 12:01 AMSep 9, 2018 at 1:13 PM

FRAMINGHAM — On the first step into Temazcal Tequila Cantina on Rte. 9, the restaurant’s tequila library takes center stage.

The shelves feature high-end tequila with some bottles in the shapes of revolvers, skulls and cowboy boots. The restaurant features nearly 300 varieties of Mexico’s signature distilled liquor, said General Manager Bill Ledbetter.

“It has to be one of the largest selections around,” he said.

The upscale Mexican restaurant, inside the former Papa Razzi at 155 Worcester Road, opened Thursday. For the first two weeks, the restaurant will open for dinner at 5 p.m. before easing into its regular hours, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. (seven days a week).

“It is a scratch kitchen. We make everything here,” Ledbetter said. “So is the bar. We don’t use bar mixed juice. We juice fresh lime for our margaritas and we muddle fresh fruit and herbs for all our cocktails.”

The drink menu also includes signature margaritas, cocktails, wine and beer. The completely renovated spaced features an elevated bar and lounge with sliding doors to the outdoors.

The restaurant is operated by the The Cronin Group’s restaurant division, which also owns Tony C’s Sports Bar & Grill and Jack’s Coal Fired Pizza. This is the fifth location of Temazcal that opened in the Seaport in 2011. Other locations include Burlington, Dedham and Lynnfield.

Its design is influenced by Mexico and its culture, and the tequila library is designed to give it an authentic cantina feel. The 7,100-square-foot space has more than 250 seats with reclaimed wood and wrought iron materials, custom lighting, a candle wall and zebra wood table tops, a wood species native to Central America. The hand-blown glasses and plates were imported from Mexico.

“It is a similar design to the other locations, but each location has its own uniqueness,” Ledbetter said.

The food is described as “old world Mexican dishes with a modern twist.”

Some of the featured menu items include fajitas ($17 - $21), asada skirt steak tacos ($16) and chorizo enchiladas ($16). One of the most popular appetizers is lobster guacamole ($18), Ledbetter said.

The menu will feature eight new items to be debuted at the new location, said Sean McDonald, corporate executive chef for The Cronin Group.

‘We have found great success in the local suburbs,” he said. “Many of our regulars work in the city and live in the suburbs.”

Temazcal means "house of heat" and is used as part of a healing ceremony thought to purify the body for spiritual and health reasons, according to the restaurant. The small chain is slowly branching out to new markets.

“We always have our eyes open for great locations,” McDonald said.

Ledbetter said the restaurant is a great addition to Rte. 9.

“It brings something a little more upscale, but still accessible,” he said.

Find more information about Temazcal at www.temazcalcantina.com.

Jonathan Phelps can be reached at 508-626-4338 or jphelps@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @JPhelps_MW.